About Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge is a gem which pulls off an almost unique trick: excelling for both couples and families.
In South Africa's malaria-free Eastern Cape area, Ecca Lodge stands on rolling spekboom hills within the Kwandwe Game Reserve. This is one of the top reserves in the area with a real sense of wilderness – thanks to it having very few fences and excellent densities of big game.
Ecca Lodge's smart, inventive architecture and décor, combined with excellent facilities, made the lodge immediately appealing to us on arrival. It felt trendy and yet never stuffy or intimidating and clearly everything here is of a high quality.
When we visited most recently, as part of a family, what stood out was the quality of the service; the excellent food; the highly flexible and genuinely friendly staff. Then the first-rate guiding here delivered a truly great game experience.
Their care and genuine flexibility made Ecca a brilliant lodge for our families, with small children; whilst its small size and tailored approach nature meant it still felt 'special' and so very romantic - perfect for a honeymoon. That’s a rare combination!
Our view
Ecca Lodge's inventive architecture and décor, combined with excellent facilities, made the lodge immediately appealing to us on arrival: trendy and yet never stuffy or intimidating. When we visited recently, as part of a family, what stood out was the quality of the service; the excellent food; the highly flexible and genuinely friendly staff; and the first-rate guiding. We think of this as a great lodge for couples, and probably the best safari lodge in the Eastern Cape for families.
Country manager: South Africa
Accommodation
6 suites
Children
Excellent for children.
Open
All year
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Fishing
Guided walking safari
Night drive
Private activities
Traveller reviews of Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
26 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Expert Africa's gallery
When we travel we take lots of photos ourselves to give you a real and un-edited view of the safaris. See our 73 pictures of Ecca Lodge to get the candid view.
View gallerySafaris visiting Ecca Lodge
Just ideas, we'll always tailor-make a trip for you
Kwandwe Self-drive Safari
3 days • 1 location • 1 country
PORT ELIZABETH AIRPORT TO PORT ELIZABETH AIRPORT
An elegantly stylish lodge that is well suited to families, Kwandwe offers a range of safari activities and the chance to sight all of the "Big 5" during exploration of the Eastern Cape.
Visiting Kwandwe
US$3,140 - US$4,450 per person
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge: Our full report
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge is a small, modern safari lodge in South Africa's Eastern Cape, which has been designed ...
... to be chic, luxurious and family-friendly. It is situated on rolling spekboom hills within Kwandwe Game Reserve, one of the top reserves in the area.
There are six spacious suites at Ecca Lodge, which are all air-conditioned and equipped with fans. Every suite has got a living room with either a sofa or two large sofa-beds (the later in the family suites), minibar and a separate bedroom (twin or double configuration). The sizable en suite bathroom features a large indoor shower, free standing bath, twin hand basins and hairdryer, and there is also a separate WC.
Heading into 2025, Ecca Lodge renamed its room types. The three family suites are now called private vehicle suites, each including a dedicated private safari vehicle, guide, and tracker. This setup allows guests to enjoy an exclusive and personalised safari experience, combining the privacy of a villa with the social atmosphere of a lodge. These suites remain family-friendly, offering day beds / sofas in the lounge area for children. Families with children under 12 are accommodated in the private vehicle suites, with a maximum of 2 adults and 2 children per suite. The remaining three safari suites at Ecca Lodge are designed for up to 2 guests each. Guests in these suites share a safari vehicle, guide, and tracker, with a maximum of 6 guests in total. Children under 12 are not permitted on shared safari activities.
The suites at Kwandwe Ecca are very stylishly furnished with a mixture of clean, trendy pieces (a massive beanbag was incredibly comfortable!) and some venerable old collectables from the area. Natural textures and colours, along with hues of mulberry dominate the interior design. The walls are made of wood panelling, interspersed with mesh-covered stone gabion and pagoda-style corrugated iron roofs.
The bedroom, living room and bathroom of the suites at Ecca Lodge all have sliding doors leading out onto a large private veranda, decorated with cacti and indigenous succulents in tall clay pots. In part of this large wooden deck is a private plunge pool and an outdoor shower.
Ecca's main areas are predominantly made of glass and stone and include a lounge, dining area, bar area, library, common veranda and swimming pool. Most of these offer lovely views, especially when the spekboom trees are in bloom, reaching over the valley until the steep shale cliff-faces in the distance – all within the Kwandwe Game Reserve.
On the cream and dusky blue sofas and chairs in the lounge you can while away time with various wildlife books and games from the large coffee table. The floors are polished concrete and the walls are stone with a big fireplace dominating one side. Big glass sliding doors lead outside onto a deck furnished with more comfortable sofas.
The dining area is open to part of the kitchen and is furnished with modern dark wood tables and very comfortable high back chairs upholstered in a bright orange and red striped fabric. Glass sliding doors lead out to more tables on the patio.
There is a small library room, with a television where you can sit and enjoy wildlife DVDs. In one corner of the library are some shelves where a few curios and some Kwandwe merchandise are for sale. More Xhosa craftworks, along with other curios, can be purchased at Heatherton Towers, the main reception of Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
Outside Kwandwe Ecca Lodge's main area, and set away from it, is a long, narrow rim-flow swimming pool surrounded by a wooden deck with a few teak loungers and umbrellas.
Ecca's original, inventive architecture and décor – which varies from giant Warhole-like prints to retro light fittings – make it a really stylish lodge and one that various members of our team have all liked on their visits to Kwandwe over the years.
On our two most recent visits here we were impressed by Ecca's flexible approach towards dining arrangements. On one trip with two children, aged four and under 12 months, we arranged for them to eat much earlier than most guests, and this wasn't the slightest problems. On another trip, with a sole four year old, they were very happy for her to eat at adult meal times.
Most of Kwandwe's safari activities are included for guests at Ecca Lodge, and they focus mainly on game drives in open-topped 4WDs – typically one drive during the morning, and another in the late afternoon which can continue into the early evening for a night drive. Guided nature walks, picnics, fishing and boat rides on Galpin Dam are also offered. In the morning it may also be possible to visit the nearby Mgcamabele Community Centre.
Our own most recent experience here is of really excellent, very responsive and flexible guiding – as well as plenty of game to see. Kwandwe Ecca has a very clear policy regarding children on game-drives – see our section on 'children', below, for details.
In many of Africa's reserves, activities usually start at the crack of dawn – to try to catch site of any predator activity. Note that in the cooler months here, the middle of the day can be just as good a time to go on safari as the early morning or late evening.
Extra activities which may be possible – and would usually be booked in advance, and paid for as an extra – include rhino darting, rhino monitoring and 'big game walking safaris'. The latter is a walking trip accompanied by an armed specialist ranger and a tracker team, with the aim of tracking and getting close to some of the reserve's larger game. The lodge normally also has private guides and vehicles which can be booked at additional cost.
Geographics
- Location
- Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, South Africa
- Ideal length of stay
- We’d recommend a minimum of three nights here, and four or five nights wouldn’t be too many if you wanted to relax as well as spot game.
- Directions
- Due to excellent roads it is an easy self-drive of 30 minutes from Grahamstown, or one and a half to two hours from Port Elizabeth Airport to Kwandwe (160km). You leave your vehicle at the car park at Heatherton Towers (main reception) and will be transferred from there to your lodge in an open-topped safari vehicle.
Alternatively there are daily scheduled flights from Port Elizabeth Airport to Kwandwe airstrip, or take a private 20-minute charter flight. On request, chauffeur-driven road transfers can be arranged. - Accessible by
- Self-drive or Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- We found the chef at Ecca Lodge very accommodating and flexible with regard to the timing of breakfast and lunches, children's meals times – and very good at catering to specific food requirements. (Note that if you need kosher food, then advanced notice is necessary, and there may be an extra cost for it.) They also have a specific children’s menu.
On our most recent visit to Kwandwe Ecca Lodge breakfast was a modest but very fresh spread majoring on a choice of fruits and cereals, and then hot breakfasts cooked to order. The bread rolls and muffins were all freshly baked. The omelette was particularly good, chosen with mushrooms, peppers, onions, and mozzarella cheese (one of several cheese options). A 'lodge special' BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato roll) was also on offer, and freshly-squeezed juices of the day were watermelon & paw-paw, apple and mango.
Lunches, which for some became brunches, were typically a small choice of dishes served to our table. The choice wasn't vast, but the chef clearly focused on very fresh ingredients and clean flavours; the dishes were delicious as the result. At one serving, they included: chick-pea salad, beetroot salad, both vegetable & beef fajita wraps and a handful of small dips, crudités and warm bread rolls. Dessert was banana slices in toffee with ice cream.
Just in case we were hungry, afternoon tea was on offer, with a small selection of cupcakes, sandwiches, biscuits and some fresh mixed fruits.
With the same approach of fresh ingredients and clean flavours, dinner on one occasion was a starter of tempura prawns with pickled cucumber and herb salad – which was crispy and delicious; a main course of duck and noodles with stir-fried vegetables with ginger and orange sauce – which maintained its separate flavours and crispness very well; and a fairly sticky malva pudding with crème Anglaise. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Travellers who like to enjoy their meals out in nature might make use of the options of bush breakfasts, dinners and sundowners, as well as picnics in the reserve.
- Drinks included
- House wines, beers, local spirits, soft drinks and bottled water are included.
Special interests
- Family holidays
- For South Africa family safari holidays with small children, Ecca Lodge should be top of your list. This Kwandwe lodge is a bit more pricey but caters exceedingly well to families with children, with special activities like 'frog safaris' to seek out local amphibians.
- See ideas for Family holidays in South Africa
- Birdwatching
- Kwandwe is an attractive destination for South Africa birdwatching as the guiding is good and it is home to many key species like black storks, martial eagles and the stunning blue cranes, South Africa’s national bird, after which the reserve was named.
- See ideas for Birdwatching in South Africa
- Wildlife safaris
- From the family-friendly Ecca Lodge you can go on 4WD wildlife safaris and guided walks in the Kwandwe Game Reserve. You have a good chance of seeing rhino, as well as lion and cheetah. Even small children can participate in spoor tracking or drives to see hazard-free wildlife.
- See ideas for Wildlife safaris in South Africa
- Luxury
- Kwandwe Ecca Lodge successfully melds modern comfort of a luxury lodge with inventive architecture and trendy, yet thoughtful details. Add to this: superb service and food, highly flexible staff and first-rate guiding; this is truly a luxury escape in a pristine private wilderness.
- See ideas for Luxury in South Africa
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children are very welcome here, and in our experience of the staff are genuinely happy to have children, and to work around their needs. Ecca Lodge has three dedicated family rooms that come with a private vehicle and guide, which is superb for family safaris.
- Property’s age restrictions
- None
- Special activities & services
- Families coming here should carefully study the rules regarding childrens' participation on game drives issued by the lodge, and ask us to clarify any details to them in writing if necessary.
- A private vehicle included as standard for families with children under the age of 12: Ecca Lodge includes the use of a private vehicle with guide and tracker for families booked into their private vehicle suites units. This offer true flexibility and makes this lodge even better for families.
- Child-minders, who are all first aid trained, are available with prior arrangement at no additional cost – so younger children can be left at the lodge whilst older children and adults go out on safari.
Back at Ecca Lodge itself, the interpretive centre includes a play area for children. All children staying at Kwandwe receive a bag with various fun bits and pieces to keep them occupied and interested, including a booklet for identifying wildlife.
Children can participate in a variety of specially-designed activities such as “poo safaris", spoor tracking, Minno's fishing trip, creative activities, treasure hunts, baking, cooking, DVD-watching and bedtime stories with milk and cookies. One of the options here is a daily one-hour morning game drive after breakfast (with or without parents) called “Striped and Hooves adventure" to view hazard-free wildlife like giraffe, zebra or warthog.
A children's menu is sent to parents to choose meals in advance and separate dining can be arranged. - A private vehicle included as standard for families with children under the age of 12: Ecca Lodge includes the use of a private vehicle with guide and tracker for families booked into their private vehicle suites units. This offer true flexibility and makes this lodge even better for families.
- Equipment
- Ecca Lodge has 3 private vehicle suites (good for families with children aged under 12 years) with day beds/sofas in the lounge area for children - (maximum 2 adults & 2 children per family suite).
Cots with mosquito nets are available for children aged 0-2 years, children aged 3-16 years can sleep on individual single beds. Furthermore the lodge is equipped with high chairs. - Generally recommended for children
- Yes, the variety of activities for children is outstanding – and the lodge tries very hard to cater for the children as individuals, with their own needs.
- Notes
- Children must be under supervision all the time because of game risks.
Child rates apply until the age of 12, Children aged 0-2 years stay free.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Ecca Lodge
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Kwandwe Ecca Lodge have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
83% success
83% success
83% success
83% success
33% success
25% success
20% success
17% success
Communications
- Communications
- Telephone and WiFi access are available in the rooms. There is no cell phone reception at Ecca Lodge, but we got cell phone signal on a hill very close to the lodge. So although patchy, it sometimes is accessible.
- Water supply
- Mains
Sustainability
Ecca’s ‘Eco-nect’ activities
Easily accessible by car or by plane, Kwandwe Ecca Lodge shares one of the largest private Big Five game viewing areas in South Africa with only 4 other lodges comprising of no more than 20 rooms altogether. Recognizing that a first step to operate sustainably is to educate people about the importance of conservation, the lodge has developed a range of eco-friendly activities for families.
Evolved from the popular kid-safari programme, Ecca’s ‘Eco-nect’ activities were firstly introduced in 2017. These are personalized experiences that aim to fun-loving children and parents about the authentic African way of life. For example, one activity teaches families how to make a fire with local crafts, which they must find by following a map and clues strategically placed around the reserve. Additionally, families can become a volunteer for a day at the reserve’s Ubunye Foundation. According to their skills and interests, they can spend time with pre-school kids, help local ladies make dolls or jewelry which they can further sell, or be part of the ‘Knit a Bit’ initiative and help make blankets which the foundation then gives away to needy communities. Moreover, families looking for a more field-based approach can identify various insects as they discover the rich wildlife of the reserve, and are taught how to identify animal tracks and droppings.
Most importantly, children can choose to plant Spekboom: one of the top five carbon-storing plants on the planet, and therefore offset their carbon footprint.
See more great sustainability projects in South Africa
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- No
- Medical care
- Lodge manager and all rangers are fully first aid trained.
The nearest place for serious medical care is Grahamstown Hospital, which is 40km, about a 40-minute drive, away. - Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- Fully trained security staff monitor animal activity within the lodge areas, and always escort guests to/from their suites from dusk to dawn. Since the lodge is not fenced, guests should be vigilant at all times and never walk around the lodge/camp on their own at night!
- Fire safety
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Fishing
Guided walking safari
Night drive
Private activities
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- Included
- Money
- Each of the suites has a safe.
- Accepted payment on location
- United States Dollars, United Kingdom Pounds and South Africa Rand are all accepted as well as Visa, MasterCard, and Amex.
Plan and book your trip with Expert Africa
All of our trips are tailor-made, so we'll always adapt them to suit you. Talk to an Expert and let us plan and arrange your perfect trip.
Talk to an Expert
Call or email us now! We’ll match you with the Specialist in our team who is best suited to help you. Then together we can start planning your trip.
Set up your itinerary
Based on our experience and your ideas, your specialist will create a detailed, costed itinerary. We’ll refine it together, until we have a trip that you’re perfectly happy with.
Prepare for your trip
The same Specialist will make the seamless arrangements for your trip, send you detailed travel documents, and be available to answer any questions before you depart.
Travel with peace of mind
After you set off, you’ll be cared for by our partners in Africa, most of whom have worked with Expert Africa for decades. And if you ever need us urgently, we’re available 24/7.
When you return
We love to learn about your trip, and so will always be grateful if you’ve the time to give feedback to your Specialist when you return.
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Ecca Lodge.
Other lodges in Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Great Fish River Lodge
Great Fish River Lodge is a superb lodge built on the edge of a gorge overlooking the river and is located in the Kwandwe Private Reserve.
Uplands Homestead
Uplands Homestead is a restored farmhouse and is located in a remote and peaceful valley in the Kwandwe Private Reserve.
Melton Manor
Sleeping a maximum of 8 people, Melton Manor is an exclusive use villa located in the superb malaria-free Kwande Private Game Resertve.
Galpin Tented Camp
Galpin Tented Camp is a a comfortable exclusive use set up in malaria-free Kwandwe Private Reserve.
When to go to Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Ecca Lodge in Kwandwe Private Game Reserve
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
South Africa in January
January is considered one of the best months to travel. In Cape Town the weather is hot and generally dry. The Garden Route is also excellent at this time of the year but has a more temperate climate, with slightly lower temperatures and rain can fall at any time of the year. In the Kgalagadi temperatures often top 40°C and short, sharp thunderstorms are also fairly frequent. Wildlife tends to disperse, although birding is excellent.
As this is the high season in the Cape there are numerous events, festivals and outdoor activities to attract visitors. Accommodation books up quickly and it may be necessary to book at least a year in advance. Reservations will often be needed for restaurants and visitor attractions too.
- Hot, largely dry days with clear skies – except on Garden Route
- Wildlife disperses in the Kalahari but birding excellent
- Events, festivals and outdoor activities staged for the high season
- The high season in the Cape, accommodation can cost up to 50% more
- Pre-booking of activities & attractions is essential
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in January
South Africa in February
In February conditions are largely the same as in January, although temperatures can be slightly higher, especially in the interior. The wind in Cape Town starts to ease off. Although the Garden Route can experience some rain, the days are pleasantly warm and largely dry.
The Kgalagadi remains very hot, but the birding is still excellent. Wildlife viewing can be tricky especially if there has been some rain, as the resulting long grass can obscure the animals.
For visitors it’s still the high season, but with the local school holidays over and residents back at work, it is less busy than December and January. Accommodation costs remain high and it’s still advisable to pre-book certain activities and restaurants.
- Hot, largely dry days with little cloud
- Wind starts easing in Cape Town
- Slightly less busy than December & January
- Accommodation costs remain high, activities still best pre-booked
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in February
South Africa in March
March is still a very good time to visit. Conditions remain dry and very warm in Cape Town, although temperatures start dropping off towards the end of the month. The wind has usually died right down.
The Kalahari remains very hot and in years of good rains vegetation is at its most lush – making wildlife viewing tricky.
Typically, the crowds dwindle, but it can get very busy if Easter falls in March. It is also worth bearing in mind that during major events in March, including the Cape Town Cycle Tour, Cape Epic Mountain Bike Tour, The Cape Town Carnival and the International Jazz Festival, accommodation can get very full.
Attractions remain busy but booking is less essential.
- Temperatures start falling towards the end of the month
- Cape Town hosts a number of world class sport and cultural events
- Wildlife in the Kgalagadi disperses, game viewing more challenging
- Crowds diminish as the high season comes to an end
- Accommodation can get busy during major events
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in March
South Africa in April
April is South Africa’s “shoulder” season and is often the most pleasant. Not too hot, not too cold, some rain but not masses. In Cape Town and along the Garden Route days are usually sunny, warm, windless and largely dry, although in Cape Town the chance of rain increases from the end of the month.
In the Kgalagadi the rainy season is typically over and migratory birds are starting to make their journey back up North. Vegetation remains lush but wildlife viewing starts picking up towards the end of the month.
The region is still relatively busy (especially of its still Easter) but it gets quieter towards the end of the month thus availability improves. Accommodation rates start to decrease, and it becomes less important to book restaurants and attractions in advance.
- Temperatures still warm and very pleasant, with little wind.
- Rain starts easing in the Kalahari and migratory birds start to depart
- Less busy, especially towards the end of the month - busy over Easter
- Accommodation frees up and prices start to come down
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in April
South Africa in May
May marks the start of the dry season in the Kgalagadi. Days are warm and dry with almost zero rainfall. Night-time/early-morning temperatures can drop towards 0°C. Wildlife viewing is at its peak as animals concentrate around the few remaining water sources.
Days can still be warm and sunny in Cape Town and on the Garden Route, but the weather becomes a lot more variable. May heralds the start of the rainy season in Cape Town and the winelands. Night-time temperatures rarely drop below 10 degrees in the coastal areas.
With far fewer tourists, accommodation prices are at their lowest. There is rarely any need to pre-book activities, but reservations are still advisable at some of the top restaurants.
- Higher chance of rain in Cape Town & the Winelands
- Day time temperatures drop significantly
- Wildlife viewing peaks in the Kgalagadi
- Low season so rarely busy & very few crowds
- Low season rates at the hotels & lodges
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in May
South Africa in June
Winter is now in full swing. Maximum temperatures in Cape Town rarely reach 20°C and the rainy season is well under way. Outdoor activities therefore become limited, but a number of high-quality indoor events are organised.
The Garden Route has, in general milder weather and less rain than Cape Town.
June sees the arrival of the first whales which migrate to the South African coastline to give birth.
In the Kgalagadi, daytime temperatures are warm but nights and early mornings are bitterly cold. Wildlife viewing is excellent as animals are drawn to the few remaining permanent water points.
Overall tourist numbers are at their lowest, as are the costs of flights and accommodation.
- Cold & wet weather in Cape Town, Kgalagadi warm days but cold at night
- One of the best months for wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi
- Whales start arriving to have their calves
- Low visitor numbers & no crowds
- Accommodation & flight prices remain low
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in June
South Africa in July
The winter weather continues with very cold nights and early mornings in the Kgalagadi and virtually no rainfall. Vegetation here is really thinning out now and water even more scarce – so wildlife is easy to spot.
Despite the winter and local school holidays, Cape Town remains a great place to visit. On a wet and cold day, the Two Oceans Aquarium, Zeitz Mocca (art museum) and the Cape Town Comedy Club all make for great days out, as does a trip to the wine country or the annual Oyster Festival at Knysna.
By mid-July most of the whales have arrived to give birth. Hermanus is the best place to see them.
At the height of the low season, so accommodation and flight prices remain low.
- Generally cold & wet in the Cape, but good quality indoor events
- Very good wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi
- Oyster festival in Knysna
- Local school holidays can make places a little busier than usual
- Accommodation and flight prices remain low
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in July
South Africa in August
While August experiences mostly wintry weather it does mark the very beginning of spring with temperatures starting to rise. Visitors are drawn to the West Coast and Namaqualand to see the wildflowers, which start blooming in late August and can be seen until mid-September. Whales are still in abundance now too.
The Kgalagadi is now very dry and wildlife vieiwng is still good. Temperatures start climbing towards the end of the month.
Despite the weather , visitor numbers can be high as the northern hemisphere schools close for their summer holidays. It may be a good idea to book certain attractions and restaurants in advance.
Simlarly, although accommodation prices are still low, flight prices can be a little higher than in previous months.
- Temperatures start rising – but still potential for cold & wet weather
- Wildflowers on the West Coast & in Namaqualand
- Good wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi
- Whales continue to attract visitors
- Can get busy due to northern hemisphere school summer holidays
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in August
South Africa in September
Good wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi continues and daytime temperatures increase quite dramatically. Mornings and evenings are still on the chilly side, but not as cold as they are in June, July and August.
The 1st of September is officially the start of spring in Cape Town. Days become warmer but not quite warm enough to enjoy the city’s beautiful beaches. Venues all over Cape Town play host to various artists during the Cape Town Fringe Festival.
Rainy days are fewer, but night times can still get chilly. Many hotels are still charging low season rates making September great value for money.
Elsewhere, Hermanus hosts the popular annual Whale Festival, and in the West of the Cape, wildflowers continue to bloom until the middle of the month.
- The start of spring; temperatures start rising
- Whale festival in Hermanus
- Cape Town Fringe Ferstival attracts a wide range of artists
- Wildflowers blooming well until the middle of the month
- Good wildlife viewing continues in the Kgalagadi
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in September
South Africa in October
The weather starts warming up nicely, Cape Town experiences pleasant days, with much less rain, nights can still be quite cool, but not cold. Some days are now warm enough to enjoy the beach. This is one of the best months to visit the Cape Region.
October is one of the hottest months in the Kalahari. Water remains very scarce, so the wildlife viewing is still very good. Towards the end of the month the odd spectacular thunderstorm is possible with much lightning and thunder. Migratory birds start to arrive, and resident species gear up for the breeding season.
The whales are still present with Hermanus and False Bay the best places to see them.
- Days start warming up; fewer rainy days in Cape Town
- Very hot in the Kalahari – thunderstorms season starts
- Migratory birds start arriving & resident birds start breeding
- Whale watching still excellent in Hermanus and False Bay areas
- Start of the high season, getting busy and accommodation prices rise
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in October
South Africa in November
By November Cape Town is experiencing summer conditions with hot, clear days and warm, pleasant evenings. It’s a great month to enjoy the beaches before the peak holiday season in December. There are no real downsides to visiting in November and you may even get a few accommodation specials before prices go up for the festive season. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens begins their summer outdoor concerts with local and international artists performing.
The Kgalagadi remains hot but thunderstorms are a bit more regular. With the rains, water sources become more plentiful and wildlife disperses but this is when herbivores such as Springbok start lambing. Photography improves as conditions become less hazy.
This is the last month for regular whale sightings – they tend to migrate back down south by early December.
- Summer now in full swing, with temperatures often reaching 30°C
- Rainy days scarce; evenings warm & very pleasant
- Antelope start lambing in the Kgalagadi; wildlife generally dispersed
- Last month for regular whale sightings
- Good time to visit Cape Town before the peak holiday season
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in November
South Africa in December
December is usually Cape Town’s hottest month when temperatures frequently breach 30°C. You can expect hot and cloudless days, and almost no rain but December does see the occasional very windy day.
The Kalahari is still hot, but temperatures are not quite as high as previous months. With the rainfall the bush transforms into various shades of green. Wildlife disperses as water become more widely available.
The Garden Route enjoys warm to hot days with rain at any time but usually not over an extended period.
Mid to late December becomes incredibly busy with concerts, festivals and various outdoor activities in Cape Town. Hotel prices rise, tourist attractions and beaches are crowded and most popular sites and restaurants need to be booked in advance.
- Long, hot sunny days
- Kgalagadi bursts into life as rainy season kicks in
- Wildlife viewing a bit trickier as wildlife disperses
- Cape Town buzzing with concerts, events, festivals etc
- Peak season: attractions get very busy & accommodation costs rise
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in December
Looking for inspiration on where to travel next?
Visit our trip chooser to explore your options and find inspiration for your perfect African adventure
Inspire me